by LuAnn McLane
Avery walked over to their table and grabbed Sophia’s jacket from her barstool. He smiled when he spotted his uncle and Carrie Ann back out on the dance floor. Looking at the empty glasses he had to wonder if there actually was some magic brewed into the Love Potion Ale. Or then again maybe his uncle finally realized that Carrie Ann was more than a friend to him.
Avery made his way outside to a deserted deck and that was just fine with him. A light breeze caused a nip in the evening air but a couple of tall heaters glowed with warmth and he gravitated toward one of them in case Sophia might feel the cold. Music and laughter from inside Sully’s drifted Avery’s way and he smiled a bit sadly, realizing with a little pang how much he’d missed nights out with friends. And he sure missed the company of a pretty woman. He sighed, thinking that letting go of the past wasn’t all that difficult but shedding his fear of getting hurt again wasn’t quite so easy. Deep in thought, he rested his hands on the wooden railing and gazed at the river in the distance.
“Pretty view even when it’s dark,” Sophia said.
Avery turned and smiled as she approached. “The light of the full moon helps.”
“And adds atmosphere.” Sophia nodded, but then rubbed her hands over her arms.
“Oh, here.” Avery reached for her denim jacket and held it out for her.
“Thanks.” When she tucked her arms into the sleeves her hair got caught beneath the collar.
“Let me help.” Avery enjoyed the feel of her silky strands slipping through his fingers. “Your hair is incredibly soft,” he murmured, wishing he could kiss the delicate skin of her neck and then wrap his arms around her to keep her warm.
“Hair stylists use the best products.”
“Well, it shows.” Avery reluctantly took a step to the side and inhaled a deep breath, trying to clear his head, but all that did was bring the scent of her floral perfume his way. “Tonight’s been a lot of fun. I don’t get out as often as I should,” he admitted, surprising himself.
“Why is that?” She tilted her head, waiting for his answer.
Avery finally shrugged. “A lot of reasons, I guess.”
“Are any of them valid?”
Sophia’s bold question surprised him.
“Not really, if you get right down to it.”
“Then you owe it to yourself to get out and have some fun more often, don’t you agree?”
“Yeah.”
“So what’s holding you back?”
“Good question.” Avery looked at her and her sincere expression had him opening up. “Well, it doesn’t help that my sister has it in her head that I should get back together with Ashley.”
“Oh.” Sophia frowned. “How do you feel about that?”
“It’s the last thing I want to do. Zoe means well but she’s driving me nuts.”
“Hmmm . . .” Sophia nodded slowly. “Well, maybe if people see you out with me it will get back to Ashley and then maybe Zoe will back off.”
“Hey, you know what? You could be right!” He grinned. “You just have to pretend to be totally into me and get a little gossip going.”
“That would be the plan.”
Avery nodded slowly. “You could be onto something.”
“I have my moments.”
“Think you could do that for me?”
“I do believe I could manage.”
“Really?”
“Sure.”
At the whoosh of the door opening Avery glanced over his shoulder and saw a few people heading out to the deck. He turned back to Sophia and felt a shot of anticipation. “Now might be the—”
“I’ve got this.” Sophia reached up and grabbed Avery’s jacket. She tugged him close and planted a hot kiss on his lips, lingering just long enough to have him longing for more. Still on tiptoe she tilted her head and smiled. “Well, that should get tongues wagging, don’t you think?”
Avery wasn’t sure about tongues wagging but the unexpected kiss sure got his heart thumping like a hard-working jackhammer. Temporarily speechless, Avery could only nod. “So, you would be willing to continue to do that for me?”
“Of course,” Sophia said, but something flickered in her eyes that he couldn’t quite figure out but before he could ask she tugged him close and kissed him again.
5
Wild Thing
“Thank you for dancing with me,” Easton said in Carrie Ann’s ear.
“My pleasure. Shew, I’ve worked up a thirst.”
“We can fix that.” He took her hand and led her back to their table. After ordering a couple of ales, Easton cleared his throat. He couldn’t believe that he was about to ask Carrie Ann out on a dinner and dancing date. It was true that he enjoyed her company and always gravitated toward her whenever he saw her out in a social situation. That, and he got his hair cut way more than he really needed to. But to toss anything remotely romantic into the mix could ruin a perfectly good friendship. “Tonight has been a lot of fun,” he said, trying to work up the courage to take the next step. Carrie Ann nodded. “Yes, it sure has been.”
“I’m glad we ran into each other.” While Easton dated here and there, growing up with parents who argued on a daily basis had soured him on the idea of marriage. Unfortunately, as he got older, he found dating casually became more and more difficult. Women wanted at least the possibility of a future and Easton just wasn’t the marrying kind. But he sure did enjoy Carrie Ann’s company. And she seemed to be on the same page as him when it came to commitment.
So what the hell was he thinking asking Carrie Ann out on a damned date? “Well, I was thinkin’ . . .” He cleared his throat again. Why the hell was this so hard? It was the slow dance that did him in. Damn . . .
“Yes? Are you gonna keep me in suspense, Easton?”
Maybe a date wasn’t a good idea. But now she sat there looking at him expectantly and so he took the plunge off the high dive and hit with a big splash. “Would you like to go out to dinner? Wine and Diner added a dance floor and has a really good Frank Sinatra impersonator who performs on Saturday nights.” There, it was out there now and he couldn’t take it back.
Carrie Ann’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh, well, I . . . sure. Yes, dinner sounds nice. Wine and Diner is one of my favorite restaurants. Kinda hipster comfort food, if you will.”
Easton didn’t quite know what hipster meant but he nodded. “Good!” Easton said brightly even though he wasn’t sure if he’d just made a really bad decision. “I’ll pick you up around seven-thirty, then?”
“Yes, seven-thirty works for me. I close the salon at six on Saturdays.”
“Perfect.” He nodded again, and then realized he must look like a damned bobblehead. “Hey, would you like something to munch on? Pretzels? Chips and salsa or something like that?” He wasn’t really hungry but needed to get away and clear his head.
“Yes, sounds good.”
“I’ll be right back.” Easton stood up. “Can I get you anything else?”
Carrie Ann glanced at her beer that was still half full. “No, I’m fine. Thanks.”
As he walked up to the bar to get some snacks Easton glanced outside and spotted Sophia and Avery out on the deck looking pretty cozy and he had to smile. He never could get Avery to open up about what happened between him and Ashley but he sure as hell wasn’t buying the popular notion that Avery had simply gotten cold feet. It did his heart good to see his nephew out having a good time with a sweet and pretty girl. Avery was too damned young not to be having fun.
Although he worked hard, Easton spent most evenings out doing something, whether it was playing softball, fishing, or at someplace social like here at Sully’s. He liked music, laughter, and mingling with people, most of whom he’d known all of his life. Small towns were like big families and he’d never really seriously considered moving away even through the lean, tough economic ti
mes. But lately, he’d been feeling a bit restless, which made him wonder if he needed a vacation or something new and exciting in his life to look forward to. Maybe a little sports car or a motorcycle . . . or a boat?
Shit, was he having a midlife crisis?
Wait, he was fifty-five so he was, in reality, past midlife. Oh, now that thought was seriously sobering so when he ordered salsa and chips he asked for another beer.
“So, Easton, how’ve you been, buddy?” Pete Sully asked in his big booming voice. He slid a bottle of Bud Light down the long bar with amazing precision, and then turned back to Easton.
“Pretty good. Busy.”
Pete nodded and placed a basket of chips and salsa in front of him. “Busy is a good thing.”
“Yeah, been thinkin’ I might need a vacation, though. Any suggestions?”
Pete shrugged his wide shoulders. “I’ve been lookin’ into taking Maria on a cruise,” he said but put his index finger to his lips. “But don’t say anything. It’s a surprise for our wedding anniversary.”
“How many years?” Easton asked. He’d been friends with Pete and Maria from when they were kids.
Pete slapped his dish towel over his shoulder. “Well, that depends if you count the first eighteen years we were married or add our second time around onto it.” He chuckled.
“Good question. I’d go with adding the years together.”
“Well, that means a bigger gift,” Pete joked but shook his head. “But then again, I need to make up for the lost years,” he added with a wistful grin. “The woman was crazy enough to say yes a second time. I’m thinking she deserves something special.”
“I’d say you’re right.”
Pete slid a beer to a patron at the end of the bar and then chuckled. “You mean about her bein’ crazy or deserving something special?”
“I’m not about to answer that loaded question.” Easton picked up his beer and took a long swallow.
Pete nodded toward the table where Carrie Ann sat. “So this vacation you’re talkin’ about. You flyin’ solo or are you thinking about some company?”
Easton shrugged. “Not sure yet,” he said, knowing full well what Pete was getting at. There’d always been speculation about him and Carrie Ann being more than friends.
“Well, you’d best make up your mind before someone else beats you to the punch,” Pete said and nodded toward the table again.
Easton watched Sam Hanson standing there chatting up Carrie Ann for about two seconds before feeling a flash of what could only be jealousy. He and Sam had been rivals on the basketball court back in high school. And while they were friendly, a little bit of that rivalry still remained. Sam leaned close and said something that made Carrie Ann laugh and he balled his hand into a fist. Okay, apparently a lot of that rivalry still remained. “I do believe you’re right.”
“Just a suggestion.” Pete chuckled.
Easton paid Pete and picked up the beer and chips. Squaring his shoulders, Easton made his way over to the table so fast that he nearly lost the plastic tub of salsa twice.
“Hey there, Sammy,” Easton said because he knew it would get under Sam’s skin.
“Easton,” Sam said tightly. A muscle worked in his jaw.
“What’s up?”
“Just wondered if Carrie Ann wanted to dance,” Sam said and looked at her with a smile that Easton wanted to wipe off the man’s face. “Well, sugar?”
Sugar . . . oh naw. He gripped his bottle tighter and gave Carrie Ann a glance.
“I . . . uh . . .” Carrie Ann reached for a chip and took a crunchy bite reminding Easton of that commercial where the guy sticks a candy bar in his mouth instead of answering.
When Sam gave Carrie Ann a please-dance-with-me smile Easton decided to answer for her. “Carrie Ann is with me.”
Carrie choked a little bit on the chip and reached for her beer.
“Oh hey.” Sam raised both hands, palms up. “Sorry. I didn’t know you two were on a date.” He looked at Carrie Ann for clarification.
“We’re not . . . we uh . . . are, you know, hanging out,” she finally answered and reached for another chip.
“Oh.” Sam nodded although nobody seemed to be clear what that really meant. “Together?”
“Yes,” Easton replied. “That’s why we’re sitting at the same table.” He pointed at the two of them and then to the table so there was no mistake.
“Okay, then I’ll let you two get back to ‘hanging out.’ Together. Have a good one,” Sam said but gave Carrie Ann an if-you-change-your-mind wink and turned away from the table.
A wink? What a smarmy-ass thing to do. Kind of made Easton want to march over there and punch Sammy right in the face. What the hell was up with that? He was usually the one to step in and break up a fight, not start one.
“Easton, what was that all about?” Carrie Ann asked lightly but tilted her head.
“I don’t like that guy.”
“Oh, Sam? He’s full of hot air, as usual.”
“What do you mean, as usual?” Did that jackass hit on Carrie Ann all the time?
“He’s just a big ole harmless flirt.” Waving a dismissive hand, she took a swallow of her beer.
Easton nodded but wasn’t so sure about the harmless part.
“So . . . why did you tell him we were together?” Carrie Ann asked carefully.
Easton sat down and inhaled a deep breath. Usually calm and sure of himself, he suddenly felt really damned nervous. He sat there for a moment trying to gather his scattered wits. The thing was, his wits usually didn’t scatter but stayed firmly in place. But something about Carrie Ann made it damn near impossible for him to think straight.
“Were you just lookin’ after me?” Carrie Ann prompted. “Like Sam was bothering me or somethin’?” She picked up another chip but seemed to forget it was in her hand.
Easton blew out a sigh. “Nope, he was bothering me.” He paused and tapped his chest. “Because he was flirting with you.” He pointed at her but then lowered his finger and crossed his arms over his chest. “Can we pretend I just didn’t do that pointing thing? I feel really silly.”
“Some things you just can’t unsee.”
“Don’t laugh.”
Carrie Ann pressed her lips together but when she slid the chip through the salsa, a little chuckle erupted. “Sorry. But why do you care if Sam was flirting with me?” While her tone remained light she looked at him closely.
Easton uncrossed his arms and leaned closer. “Damn, Carrie Ann, isn’t it obvious? I was jealous.”
The chip slid from her fingers and landed on the little puddle of salsa on the round paper plate. “You . . . you were?”
Easton glanced away for a second, but then looked at Carrie Ann square in the eye. “Yeah.”
“Well, you don’t sound too happy about it.” She picked up another chip that she still didn’t eat.
Easton scooted his stool closer to hers not wanting anyone to hear what he was about to say to her. “Darlin’, I value your friendship. I don’t want things to . . .” He shrugged. “You know.”
“Get weird?”
He nodded. “So, help me out here. Thoughts?” His thigh brushed against hers. It was something that must have happened a thousand times over the years, but this time the contact sent a slow, hot sizzle of desire through his blood. “Carrie Ann?” Did she just feel it too?
“I . . . I think perhaps we need to get out of here and talk about it.”
“You want to finish your beer?” He sure as hell hoped not. He wanted to kiss her. Now.
“No.”
“Me neither. I already paid the tab.”
“Good.” She dropped the chip and dusted off her hands.
“Do you need to tell Sophia?”
“I’ll text her later. She seems content to be with Avery.�
�
“You ready?”
She nodded.
“Let’s go.”
Easton wanted to hold Carrie Ann’s hand but he thought that would be too obvious. Plus, he didn’t want tongues to wag and so he stood back for her to go first, strolling casually when he wanted to pull her out the door and into his arms. The urgency of how much he wanted to kiss her blew Easton away.
But then again he supposed this intense need stemmed from years of suppressing his attraction to Carrie Ann. If he was honest, his feelings for her went all the way back to high school. But when her father died, she’d pretty much dropped out of his social life. Easton suddenly found himself wishing he’d realized how hard that must have been and made an effort to spend more time with her.
Well, he couldn’t turn back the clock. But maybe it was about damned time that he opened his heart up to the possibility of a lasting relationship.
Easton helped Carrie Ann slip her arms into her coat before locating his jacket. He felt some curious eyes watching them but he didn’t care. As a matter of fact, he should have held her hand and let people like Sam Hanson get the message.
“Oh, it’s cold out here.” Carrie Ann rubbed her hands together.
“Well, let’s go someplace warm.” He grabbed her hand and started walking.
“And where might that be?”
“In front of my fireplace. It’s gas and lights up like magic. You game?”
Carrie Ann nodded. “My car is over there.” She pointed to a sassy red Mustang.
“You know the way to my cabin up on Pine Ridge?”
Carrie Ann nodded. “Yeah, I think so but I’ll follow you.”
“Good, I’ll just pull my truck around,” Easton said. Part of him couldn’t believe this was really happening, and the other part of him wondered how in the hell having Carrie Ann over to his place hadn’t happened sooner.
The fifteen-minute drive along the winding road hugging the river seemed to take forever and he kept looking in his rearview mirror to make sure that Carrie Ann’s Mustang was still following him.